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Council approves design amendment adding ADA push-button work for South Commercial Avenue; design cost rises to $253,905
Summary
Council approved a $133,465 amendment to Osborne Consulting's design contract for the South Commercial Avenue Corridor Phase 2 to add crosswalk push-button and junction-box design required by WSDOT, raising the total design contract to $253,905. Council debated the cost amid broader budget cuts and asked about construction phasing and funding.
Public Works sought and council approved a contract amendment with Osborne Consulting, Inc., to add design and documentation for pedestrian crosswalk push buttons, junction boxes and related wiring at intersections included in the South Commercial Avenue Corridor Phase 2 project (Thirteenth to 30th/30th Street). Public Works Director Rahim said WSDOT’s review required replacement of the crosswalk system at the affected intersections to meet ADA standards and that adding the push-button design doubled the consultant’s design cost.
The amendment increases the design contract by $133,465 to a total design price of $253,905. "Basically, we can't do the project without doing the push buttons," Rahim said. Council members pressed staff on whether WSDOT would contribute additional construction funding (it will not) and on whether phasing the construction would impose additional mobilization costs: staff said mobilization for separate phases typically raises construction cost by roughly 10 percent.
Council members approved the amendment after extended discussion about prioritization of capital projects in light of the mayor’s budget message. Staff said the next step is to complete full design documents and return with construction estimates and a recommended phasing plan that aligns with available REIT, TBD and grant funding.
